How occupational therapy can help at work.
Occupational therapy can complement occupational health advice by providing a detailed functional assessment of the person, their work tasks and their working environment.
At Occupational Balance Consulting, I look at the practical relationship between the person, their role, their working environment and the tasks they are expected to carry out.
This can be helpful when an employer needs to understand how health, disability, neurodivergence, pain, fatigue, stress, cognitive difficulties or long term conditions are affecting day to day work performance.
Rather than focusing on diagnosis alone, occupational therapy considers how a person functions in real situations. This may include how they manage physical tasks, cognitive demands, communication, workload, routines, stamina, equipment, environmental barriers and the expectations of their role.
Where appropriate, I can complete workplace assessments, ergonomic assessments, cognitive and functional assessments, neurodiversity related assessments and return to work planning.
My assessments can help identify:
- What the employee is finding difficult.
- How their health or disability affects their work tasks.
- What barriers exist within the role or working environment.
- What adjustments may be reasonable and practical.
- What equipment, strategies or changes may support safer and more sustainable work.
- Whether further specialist input may be needed.
The aim is to provide clear, practical and realistic recommendations that help employers make informed decisions and support employees appropriately.